Work-holding apparatus



Dec. 12, 1944. J J, HUBER 2,365,079

WORK-HOLDING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 31, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet l WITNESSES: NV NTO W-YM 34 11; John Huber ATTORNEY Dec. 12, 1944. J. J. HUBER WORK-HOLDING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 31, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3

FIG. 4

INVENTOR John J. Huber BY mam I ywvfiav ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 12, 1944 ingh'ouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application August 31, 1943, Serial No. 500,635

6 Claims. 9059) This invention relates to clamps, more particularly to a combined clamp and block assembly for securing work, to be machined, in position upon the work-table of the machine involved, and it vertical column relation to provide a. block structure of any desired height for clamping various sizes of work. I V

Another object of the invention is to provide clamping structure capable of use over a wide range of variation in height of the work to be clamped.

These and other objects are effected by the invention as will be apparent from the following description and claims taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of clamping apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line IIII of Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows; and;

Figs. 3 and 4 are side elevational views of different arrangements or combinations of parts shown in Figs. 1 and 2. I

Referring now to the drawings more in detail, there is shown, at ID, a piece of work to be machined, the work Ill resting upon the worktable I I of any suitable machine tool.

The support for the means for clamping the work Ill upon the worktable II comprises a plurality of blocks arranged one upon another in column formation, and in the arrangements herein illustrated, these blocks comprise a base block I2 and a top block I6, with one or more intermediate blocks, such as blocks I3 and I4 of Figs. 1 and 2, and I5 of Fig. 3, interposed therebetween when additional height is desired. The base recess 22 of each block likewise receiving the rearwardly-extending lip IQ of the block next below. Thus, there is provided an interlocking of the column of blocks at their front edges, thereby preventing vertical movement of any block with respect to the blocks therebelow.

Each of the blocks, with the exception of the top block,is provided, at its rear end, with a horizontal supporting surface 24, which is rabbeted, at 25, to receive a depending rib 26, extending transversely of the lower horizontal surface 21 of the block resting thereon.

It, will be obvious that anyone block is assembled upon its supporting block by first inserting its forwardly-projecting rib 2| into the rearwardly-opening recess of the supporting block, and then lowering the rear end thereof slightly to provide for interfitting of the depending rib 26 in'the rabbet 25, with the result that the blocks ar interlocked against forward or backward movement in a horizontal plane and, as previously'pointed out, the forward ends are likewise interlocked against relative vertical movement.

In order to prevent lateral movement of the rear ends of the blocks with respect, to one another, an upwardly-extending dowel-pin 28 is positioned vertically in the rabbet for reception block and the intermediate blocks are each proopening recess 20 of the block next below, and the in a slot 29 formed in th depending rib 26 of each'block immediately above (Fig. 2).

To provide as strong and yet as light a construction as possible, the central portions of the blocks are made in the form of webs 3 I, and where the blocks are of considerable height, for example, blocks I3 and I5, the webs3I may be cut away at the center to form an opening 32, thereby providing for reduction in the quantity of material required and likewise in the weight of the block.

The base block I2 is provided with one or more vertical openings 33 therethrough, for the passage of hold-down bolts 34, which extend into the undercut slots 35 of the worktable II to secure the block I2 thereto in the conventional manner.

The top block I6 is provided at its forward end with an upwardly-extending stud 3-1, adapted to extend through and above the bolt-receiving opening 38 of a conventional strap type clamp 39, when the latter is positioned with its nose or forward end 40 resting upon the work I0, and, its tail or rearward end 4| resting upon the upper surface at the rearward end of the top block I6. It will be apparent that tightening of the nut 42 on the stud 3! to bear through the washer 43 upon the upper surface of the clamp 39, will result in tension being applied through the stud 31 to the interlocked forward ends of the column of blocks. At the same time, the superimposed rear ends of the blocks are placed in compression by the tail or rearward end 4| of the clamp 39.

As illustrated by Figs. 1, 3 and 4, various combinations of different heights of blocks may be used to obtain a clamping block formation of any desired height. At the same time, the necessity for maintenance of a large number of bolts of varying lengths, as has heretofore been necessary, is eliminated, as only one short stud, such as 31', is needed for each clamp, regardless of the height of the work being held.

While the invention has been shown in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and it is desired, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A work-holding device comprising a plurality of blocks adapted to be positioned one upon another in column formation, means carried by the blocks adjacent their front edges for interlocking them against relative vertical movement, and means carried by the top block for securing a strap-type clamp in Work-holding position with its forward end bearing on the work to be held and its rearward end bearing on the column of blocks at the rearward end thereof. 2. Structure as specified in claim 1, wherein the means for securing the strap-type clamp in work-holding position is disposed near the front end of the top block.

3. A composite blockstructure for supporting a strap-type clamp in work-holding position and comprising a base block adapted to be secured to a machine worktable or the like; one or more intermediate blocks adapted to be positioned on the base block in column formation; a top block adapted to be positioned on the intermediate block or blocks; a stud extending upwardly from the front end of the top block; and all of the blocks havinginterlocking means at their front ends, whereby, when a strap-type clamp is positioned with its rear end on the rear end of the top block, its front end on the work to be held, and its bolt opening receiving the stud, tightening of a nut on the free end of the stud against the upper surface of the clamp will place the interlocked front ends of the blocks in tension and the superimposed rear ends of the blocks in compression.

4. A composite block structure for supporting a strap-type clamp in work-holding position and comprising a base block adapted to be secured to a machine worktable or the like; one or more blocks adapted to be positioned on the base block in column formation and including a top block; a-stud extending upwardly from the front end of the top block; and all of the blocks having interlocking means at their front ends, whereby, when a strap-type clamp is positioned with its rear end on the rear end of the top block, its front end on the work to be held, and its bolt opening receiving the stud, tightening of a nut on the free end of the stud against the upper surface of the clamp will place the interlocked front ends of the blocks in tension and the superimposed rear ends of the blocks in compression.

5. A composite block structure for supporting a strap-type clamp in work-holding position, comprising a plurality of blocks adapted to be positioned one upon another in column formation, each of said blocks having means at each end for interlocking it with adjacent block or blocks; means for securing the lowermost block to a machine worktable or the like; and means for securing a strap-type clamp to the uppermost block with the forward end of the clamp bearing upon the work to be held and the rearward end bearing upon the composite block structure.

6. Structure as specified in claim 4, wherein the interlocking means at the front ends of the blocks prevents relative vertical movement of said front ends and the interlocking means at the rear ends of the blocks prevents relative transverse movement'of said rear ends.

JOHN J. HUBER. 

